Thread: Mini Max Combination Machine

Craig,


I have had my Lab30 for about 5 years now. Great machine for what I use it for...

What ya wanta know?

Cheers

Shane...

Shane,

I am into furniture...on the weekends and weeknights (when I'm allowed!)

What sort of stuff do you use yours for?

My questions are:

1. Have you been happy with the general integrity of the machine, build quality, design etc?

2. How have you found the obtaining of spare parts and general service queries from the supplier?

3. Do you have an operation manual or parts catalogue?

4. Have you found the plastic locking handles on the fences etc to be of adequate strength?

5. Have you noted any of the same extrusions or other bits on any other brand of combo machine? (I think SICAR may share some stuff with MiniMax)

6. What is the size and capacity of the sliding table on your machine? I suspect that mine may have an option in this area..

7. Does you machine have the scriber option?

If so how well does it work? How has alignment been etc?

Anything elso you might want to add to this would be gratefully received.

I have purchased a secondhand machine that is ex-government and appears to have done very little work.

It is 3phase, has the scriber and overhead dust chute on the table saw. It seems to be missing a couple of small fittings including one of the fences from the spindle moulder.

The sliding table has a 1450mm stroke with a width of 1200mm. Spindle moulder is a four speed unit - 1400-8000rpm.

When I spoke with Gabbett about obtaining parts they wanted the serial number so they could get a parts manual from SCM in Italy!

Do you think nothing ever breaks on these machines or is the supplier just not on the ball?

Cheers,

CK.

Well, I havn't got time to answer everything just right at the moment. I will grab my manual and parts list and sit down latter on today and reply properly.
As far as spare parts go. I may just email you concerning that I had some problems.

Cheers
Shane..

P.S. Craig, just noticed you havn't got your email address registered. Thats ok, if you want to email me your address so I can send you an email.
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Shane Watson (edited 13 June 2000).]

Well what a day!

Craig,

I use the Lab30 for general woodworking. I say woodworking because I don't use it solely for furniture manufacture. Actually the most use it gets is from my restoration work. Sounds strange I suppose but I rejoint all tops so the planer gets a good working. Not to mention all those broken bits I have to make new pieces of.

Yes I have been more than happy with the machine. Especially the fact that it only takes up a couple of sqm of my valuable floorspace. I guess if I want to be really finicky about things, there are small design faults but hey they don't hinder the operation of the machine and besides fitting so much into such a small machine, something is bound to be not quite right.

Yeah I do have the operations manual and parts book. I would suggest obtaining these. They are quite bulky as far as manuals go. The parts book is over 25pg in A4 size.

The plastic locking handles were a concern of mine as well. But I must admit that I have only broken one and thats was my fault, I think I had one too many weetbix that morning I find them great to use and can be very quick as well. Looking at most machinery they all seem to be going to those systems.

No I havn't taken much notice of what other brands use for there extrusions. I am happy with what I have so I havn't bothered looking at others. But yeah I wouldn't be surprised if some things can be interchanged to a degree. Surely Samco dosn't manufacture everything that goes on there machines....

I didn't bother with the scriber attachment. And I wouldn't bother with putting one on now either. But thats my opinon,I do very little panel cutting so I just don't have the need for one. I guess the size of my sliding table is the same as yours. Although I would have to take to it with a measuring tape to make sure. I know it has about 850mm ripping capacity. I have cut 1200x2400 sheets on occassions and have had no trouble, but needed an assistant to help things.

I opted for the single phase version and it has performed above expectations. The only time I wish I had a little more power has been while thicknessing, but thats me trying to cut off more than I can chew

The only componant that I don't use is the morticer. Its just too much of a hassle to setup. I find it quicker to setup the morticer in the drillpress! But then I don't have much call for those joints.

I love the spindle moulder, but don't use it that much due to the cost of the cutters. Its always cheaper to get the profiles I need in router bit rather than cutters.

Overall if I had the space and money I would opt for dedicated machines, But as I said earlier the Lab30 is great for what I use it for, and it ain't no Triton!

Spend some time in making sure everything is setup just right and always use a good dust extractor with it, but that goes without saying.

As for spareparts, thats a bit of a sore subject with me, but when I needed parts they were available in Australia but I believe most parts are kept in Italy. It was just that my supplier didn't want to honour the warrenty, but I found out latter that that was due to them being taken over by another firm, not my concern though.

I wouldn't be surprised that all parts you may require would have to come from Italy. Apprantly Samco regularly change the designs and the Australian supplier dosn't know of these changes until the machines are unpacked from the containers, or so they say... So that is the reason the oz supplier dosn't keep a lot of parts, or so they say...

And yes that will also be the reason they need the serial number from the machine so they can make sure the parts will fit that machine.

Some would say that all that fuss about spares is what turns them off foreign machinery, but there ain't too many machinery manufacturers in oz. But I have only needed spares on the one occassion and the parts were easliy aqcuired despite the hassles with the supplier.

Well hope all this anwers some of your questions. If you want anymore info let me know!

If you do need something specific from the parts booklet let me know and I will scan the neccessary page and email it through. Just remember to always state your serial number when enquiring about parts.

Cheers
Shane.......

Craig, I have had a Lab 30 for some time now and find the that although it is a robust and effective piece of machinery,it is a pain in the proverbial when trying to access spares for it.Last year I e-mailed various dealers as well as the home company in Italy for spare parts with very little or no satisfaction(HAVING GIVEN UP ON MY LOCAL GABBET DEALER AS FAR AS SERVICE GOES).
I imported a spindle moulder ring fence system for it from the UK and after much wringing of hands and some colourful language from yours truly it finally arrived 8 months later(would have been quicker to access it direct from supplier thru the internet.
I spoke to the Sydney rep at the Brisbane WWork Show and I have his card and number if you require his details . He assured me that thru my grumbling over lack of service that he would attend my needs when I mentioned my desire to acquire certain parts replacement.
I also had the misfortune to have to replace my switch but this was achieved by using a local electronics firm after once again some attempt to use the service of the local dealer.Apart from all that the versatility and accuracy of the machine is good.

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Johnno

Johno,

I wonder if SCM in Italy is aware that Gabbett are representing them so poorly in Australia. Maybe they are not aware of how important backup and spare part supply is to Australians. Doesn't do a lot for a company that seems to make really good gear....

I'm still waiting for my spares manual so I can give the part numbers to Gabbett so they can then order the parts from SCM - What a joke.

When I enquired as to why they had no manuals here in Australia the girl replied that there were about 30 different models of machine that SCM made and that would be too much capital outlay for Gabbett.

If that's the type of shoestring budget they operate on the machines should be considerably cheaper!

If I could have the Details of the Rep you mentioned I would be greatful.

Cheers,

CK.

Craig,Unfortunately I'm going to be unavailable for a couple of day's and if you can bear with me in the interim I'll dig up the reps details and get back to you.


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Johnno

Craig, hi it's me again and yes I have managed to locate the reps card and I must apologise for one small detail in that the rep was a Brisbane rep and not a Sydney rep as was stated.Never mind he gave me the Sydney spare parts number which is 1300 850 851 and his name was MARK TUCKWELL and he said to either mention his name or failing that his contact point in BRISBANE is 07 3208 0344 or [email protected]
He assured me that all means possible would be taken to satisfy my request for service sadly lacking in my neck of the woods.
Hope this helps you out!!

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Johnno

Thanks Johno,

Stay tuned for further developments...

Cheers,

CK.

Hello I just bought a mini max lab 30 and for some reason the moulder shaft does not engage to go up or down am I doing something wrong have read manual and am either mising something or is broken any tips?

There should be a socket head screw and washer going up into the hollow end of the screw mechanism that winds the spindle shaft up and down. If this has vibrated loose and dropped out, the entire spindle moulder assembly (if wound too low) can accidentally drop off the end of the screw mechanism and needs to be levered up with a length of softwood, while aligning the screw thread in the hole then wind the hand wheel to engage the thread. Once back on the the screw mechanism, find the correct sized socket head screw and washer to stop this happening again. Good luck.




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Wow. 19 years between posts. That's got to be a record.